People today are resisting the true Savior yet looking for a leader to solve their personal, financial and social problems apart from the truth of Christianity. Those who reject Jesus will be left behind at the return of the Lord. They will get their “Messiah.” He will be convincing enough to make them believe an alternative form of Jesus—a Christ that will give them their own way. We are the generation that is witnessing the signs of the soon coming of the Lord. At that time Paul says the “man of sin” will be revealed.
II Thessalonians 2:3b “and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
Imagine the rapture from the standpoint of those left behind. There will be a light shining from east to west so quickly that you barely see it. Its there and gone in a twinkling of an eye. Jesus describes it like lightening. Paul calls it “a Moment; the twinkling of an eye. When it happens, believers in graves all the way back to Adam will raise and, along with those alive at that time, will disappear. The people will go up from all nations.
Although underdogs, there are Christians in key positions in all levels of government throughout the world. People from every family, neighborhood and work place will be gone. The true church will be gone; the ones left behind will be from these places. Most churches will have people left behind. It’s frightening to think that even some in our membership may be left. No doubt this will be true of all churches. One must be born again to be ready. Belonging to a church means nothing without a real, personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
With no presence of Christianity and the absence of the Holy Spirit, the time of grace will be fulfilled for the Gentiles. Individuals, families, communities on a global level will be in unspeakable distress, and want answers. The leaders won’t have them. Even now, it is obvious that the cover story is being arranged. We’re already cast in a bad light. All religions are accepted, and true Christians are the ones to get rid of. The set up of integration of businesses and governments is already in place. The computer networks allow us to find out about anyone we want. Just punch in a name and with a little more information, we can be found. The number and naming system are already set. Each one of us is already “marked” and monitored with individual i.d. numbers. People will look for a leader to bring peace in the world and in their hearts; the “man of sin” will be revealed.
Paul calls the anti-Christ the “man of sin.” He’s the embodiment of sin. He will endorse and promote it finding a common ground to make it seem that nothing is wrong (“with all deceivableness of unrighteousness to them that perish..”) People can believe anything they wish, and it will be okay. Aren’t we seeing this thinking today? He will be sin in human form, the man of perdition. He won’t be of the natural order we are, for perdition means a man without a soul. For decades scientists have been experimenting with the creation of human life apart from conception. These creations will have no soul and be without a conscience. However, he will be the perfect person in the eyes of everyone; he’ll possess such attractiveness that the world follows him. Daniel calls him the dark prince. Revelation says he rises from the sea, from humanity. Seeming normal he’ll live among the people. Very few knew Jesus was the Messiah until he stepped out publicly at the age of 30. Believing the rapture is soon, the anti-Christ must be an adult now, somewhere among the masses. No one knows the hour of Jesus’ return, but upon it people will look for order and find it in this man. He won’t claim deity, but people will believe he is, because he will come across as a sort of super-human. His inital public lie: “Judgment” will have taken place and all those Christians will be gone. Exalting himself, he sits in the temple above God. He won’t say it, but will project himself as God. He’ll work his lying wonders and fool and convince people; they will fall for it.
Satan knows we don’t have much longer in this world. We’re under his gun. Jesus told us to be watchful and press on. Be mindful of the times and seasons of the coming of the Lord, but each moment matters. As John said, “even so, come quickly.”
We’ll finish this up next week.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 